A bridge collapse kills 32 in India

Sunday, October 23, 2011 – According to Indian officials at least 32 people have died and 132 has been injured in a bridge collapse at a political event in a tea-producing region of Darjeeling of India.

This bridge collapsed when more than 150 villagers were standing on it for talks by local separatist leaders on Saturday night. The victims fell at 70 feet height into the flowing Rangeet Khola river.

As per the reports around 60 people were rescued on Saturday night and searches on Sunday were mainly focused on areas down river.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government would do everything it can to help the victims and their families.

The bridge was reportedly built in 1942, and is thought to have been weakened by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook north-eastern India, Nepal and Tibet in September.